Comparison of the Histological Structure of an Anterior as well as a Posterior Biopsy From the Human Palate: A Comparative Study

AIM To compare the histological structure of biopsies from the anterior and posterior regions of the human palate in order to gain insights into potential differences of soft tissue harvesting sites. METHODS This comparative study involved 20 participants, from each of whom four samples from the palatal mucosa were collected. The biopsies were histologically processed and subsequently analysed. The thickness of the epithelium, lamina propria, and the length of the rete pegs were measured using a microscope. In addition, parameters such as collagen fibres, elastic fibres, elastic connective tissue, loose connective tissue and the background were measured. RESULTS The mean epithelial thickness was 0.42 mm anteriorly and 0.37 mm posteriorly. The mean thickness of the lamina propria was 0.81 mm anteriorly and 0.85 mm posteriorly. Within the region of interest, collagen fibres were significantly less abundant anteriorly than posteriorly (p = 0.016). The loose connective tissue showed a significantly higher occurrence in the anterior compared with the posterior sampling site (p = 0.004). CONCLUSION This trial indicates no differences in terms of the thickness of the lamina propria. There was a higher concentration of collagen fibres and a lower concentration of loose connective tissue in the posterior region of the palate.